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Summary Information

Abstract

These papers comprise correspondence, organizational records and documents,
speeches, public schedules, photographs and memorabilia relating to the public life of
David N. Dinkins, civil servant to the City of New York for over thirty years and
professor in the Practice of Public Affairs at the Columbia University School of
International and Public Affairs.

Collection is predominantly in English. Spanish, Chinese and
Japanese indicated at folder level.

Access:

This collection has no restrictions.
This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least
two business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript
Library reading room.
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Description

Scope and Content

These records originate from the office David N. Dinkins. The documents that comprise
this collection primarily encompass the years in which David Dinkins served as mayor of
New York City and Manhattan Borough President. The campaign for Manhattan borough
president in 1985 and the mayoral campaigns of 1989 and 1993 figure prominently. The
corpus consists primarily of correspondence, press releases, news clippings, memoranda,
photographs, trophies, awards, diskettes, certificates, pamphlets, pins, drawings,
paintings and caricatures. Photographs, drawings, and other ephemera that chronicled
Dinkins term as mayor were later added to the collection, but were not separately
accessioned.

This series encompasses David Dinkins early political career, his campaign for
Manhattan Borough President, his 1989 and 1993 Mayoral campaigns, and his terms
serving as both Manhattan Borough President, 1986-1989, and Mayor of the City of
New York, 1990-1993. All four subseries are arranged alphabetically.

Subseries I.1: General, 1965-1986, represents his early political career,
holding documents from when he served as a representative in the New York State
Assembly for one term, 1966-1967, President of the Board of Elections from
1972-1973 and City Clerk, 1975-1985. He was named Deputy Mayor by Mayor Abraham
D. Beame (1974-1977), but was not appointed. Dinkins was also a founding member
of the Black and Puerto Rican Legislative Caucus of New York State, the Council
of Black Elected Democrats of New York State and One Hundred Men. He also
served on the Executive Committee of the Association of the Bar of New York
State. Materials from all of these organizations are represented here as well.
The types of records included in this series are press releases, speeches,
meeting minutes, organizational resolutions and by-laws.

Subseries I.2: Campaigns, 1965-1994, documents David Dinkins campaigns for
Manhattan Borough President in 1985 and both Mayoral Campaigns of 1989 and
1993. It should be noted that there is one file on Dinkins’ first electoral
campaign for New York State Assembly in 1965. The bulk of material consists of
campaign literature, fundraising events, and volunteers for the Committee for
David Dinkins, endorsements by constituency, speeches with drafts, candidate
questionnaires with responses, position papers, and strategies by groups, polls
and accomplishments. Also prominent are congratulatory correspondence on
primary and general elections. Notes of unidentified authorship can be found in
abundance throughout this series.

Subseries I.3: Manhattan Borough President, 1981-1993, is made up of primarily
speeches and subject files. The subject files are organizations and typically
consist of histories and general background information, newsletters and
pamphlets. The topics of the speeches include, African-Americans, awards, Black
and Jewish relations, budget, education, housing, and tributes. These records
are photocopies with the exception of the organizational files.

This series comprises certificates, awards, posters, original drawings, original
prints, keys to international cities, caricatures and an album of drawings and
poems dedicated to David Dinkins. These materials are arranged chronologically by
format and size.

Individuals that figure prominently in this series are: David Dinkins, Joyce
Dinkins, Ed Koch, Mario Cuomo, Basil Paterson, Charles B. Rangel, Lena Horne, Jack
Rudin, Jesse Jackson, Edward M. Kennedy, Leon Bogues, Arthur Ashe, and Gloria
Steinem. Many of these photographs are unidentified and undated. Three photo
albums are included and have been left in original format to maintain context.
These materials are arranged alphabetically.

This series contains VHS, Broadcast cassettes, audio cassettes, and U-Matic
videocassette. The bulk consists of David Dinkins’ interviews on both radio and
television. There are also promotional videos from companies soliciting
advertising clientele. These materials are arranged chronologically.

Using the Collection

Access Restrictions

This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least
two business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript
Library reading room.

Restrictions on Use

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish material
from the collection must be requested from the Curator of Manuscripts, Rare Book and
Manuscript Library (RBML). The RBML approves permission to publish that which it
physically owns; the responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the
patron.

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

History / Biographical Note

Biographical Note

David N. Dinkins was born in Trenton, New Jersey on July 10,
1927. In his early childhood, Dinkins moved with his mother to Harlem, but returned to
Trenton to attend high school. After graduating he enrolled in Howard University in
Washington, DC. World War II erupted and his studies were put on hold when he served in
the United States Marine Corps. After serving as a Marine during World War II, he went
on to obtain his bachelor's degree in mathematics from Howard University in 1950. At
Howard, he became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, the nation's first
intercollegiate fraternity for African-American men. After graduating from Howard, he
married Joyce Burrows, a former classmate. They moved to Harlem in 1951 and in 1956 he
graduated from Brooklyn Law School. Dinkins practiced law in New York City from 1956
until 1975, while pursuing a career in politics.

Joyce Burrows grew up in a very political family. Her father
was Daniel Burrows, a former assemblyman and district leader. Burrows introduced Dinkins
to J. Raymond Jones, the "Harlem Fox", known leader of Tammany Hall, the New York
Democratic County Organization in the 1960s. It was through Jones that Dinkins became an
integral part of the Carver Democratic Club. During this period he mixed and aligned
himself with an influential group of upcoming politicians that included Charles Rangel,
Percy Sutton and Basil Paterson. Later, this group of young and ambitious politicoes
became known as the "gang of four".

In 1965, Dinkins was elected a New York State assemblyman. In
this role he helped with the creation of the Search for Education, Elevation, and
Knowledge Program (SEEK) in the City University of New York. SEEK assisted low income
students with attaining a college education by helping them with basic education and
counseling. As the program grew it became clear that many students could not stay in
college without additional income. As a result, Dinkins mobilized the New York Urban
Coalition and the 100 Black Men, organizations with core missions to educate youth
through a variety of support services providing part time and summer jobs for students
through agreements with private businesses.

Dinkins served as president of the Board of Elections from
1972-1973, successfully establishing guidelines that facilitated and encouraged wider
voter registration. He convinced the legislature to allow voter registration by mail in
New York State. At the same time, he convinced corporations, community groups, schools
and unions to make voter registration forms readily available to the public. He went on
to serve as city clerk from 1975 until 1985.

When Manhattan Borough President, Percy Sutton stepped down in
1977 to run for mayor of New York City, he encouraged Dinkins to run for the vacant
position. Dinkins lost the first election to democratic candidate Andrew Stein, but won
on his third attempt, in the 1985 campaign.

In 1989 Dinkins ran for mayor, defeating three-term incumbent
Mayor Ed Koch, for the Democratic nomination. In November, he beat republican candidate
and United States attorney, Rudy Giuliani, winning the general election. On January 1,
1990, Dinkins was sworn in as the first African American mayor of New York City. Dinkins
was considered moderate and soft spoken in leadership style. When he took office, New
York City was experiencing the effects of an economic recession; racial strife, drug use
and crime were on the rise. Dinkins celebrated New York City as a "gorgeous mosaic"
referring to its ethnic diversity, while pledging to mend racial tensions. And as the
federal government had cut monetary aid to the nation's cities, Dinkins' supporters
pushed an agenda that focused on social services for a struggling city population.

Dinkins promises to mend the city's race and religious
divisions had to be balanced against a dire financial deficit. Nonetheless, Dinkins
focused on making New York City a better place for its residents. He concentrated on
AIDS prevention-treatment, fighting drug abuse, and building better schools and
affordable housing. "Safe Streets, Safe City" was his criminal justice plan, which
reduced crime while at the same time providing youth programs, expanding opportunities
for children. He is credited with the creation of the office of Special Commissioner of
Investigation for Schools, and worked to create an all civilian police complaint review
board.

In 1991, a riot broke out between the Hasidic and Black
communities in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. In its aftermath, some thought that the Hasidic
community received favored treatment, while others thought that not enough force was
used against the Black community. In 1993, Dinkins lost the mayoral race to Rudolph
Giuliani. Political pundits, the day after, referred to the Crown Heights affair as
central to his defeat.

After serving his term as New York City mayor, Dinkins
accepted a faculty appointment in the Practice of Public Affairs at Columbia
University's School of International and Public Affairs; he also serves on its board of
advisors. Mr. Dinkins chairs the New York City and Johannesburg Sister City Program,
serves on the Advisory Board of Independent News and Media, and is a member of the
Council on Foreign Relations. He serves on the steering committee of the Association for
a Better New York (ABNY), and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Upper
Manhattan Empowerment Zone.